The National Election Commission chairman has recommended that the next general elections should be conducted without a population census.

Professor Abednego Akok Kacuol says voter registration can be conducted instead of a population census.

“We discovered that there are countries which did their elections without census and they apply voter registration,” said Prof Akok.

“So, all this will be discussed by the stakeholders and what will come out will be something agreed. I want to apply voter registration.”

He says he will submit an election timetable to the Council of Ministers next week for approval.

“We have discussed with the President yesterday and we agreed that the re-submission is to be made – the Electoral Calendar is to be re-submitted.

“I am preparing for it and I will submit it next week to the Council of Ministers.

The first general elections since the country gained independence from Sudan in 2011, were initially scheduled for 2015.

In May, President Salva Kiir announced that the elections will be delayed until 2017 due to instability and violence in the country.

The President said the delay would allow more time for national reconciliation.